Date: Wed, 24 Aug 2016 10:47:03 EDT
Summary: Over 8 inches of rain fell in less than 12 hours in northeast Iowa last night causing major flooding.
Heavy rains fell in northeast Iowa last night causing major flooding on the Upper Iowa and Turkey Rivers. Over six inches of rain fell over a wide area in northeast Iowa according to National Weather Service (NWS) estimates (http://water.weather.gov/precip/). A USGS raingage registered over 8 inches of rain in less than 12 hours last night.
Communities in the effected areas have been sandbagging, several roads are closed, and one community has begun to evacuate, according to local news outlets (http://www.kwwl.com/story/32829908/2016/08/24/freeport-being-evacuated-in-winneshiek-county).
USGS streamgages in northeast Iowa are forecasted by the NWS to reach near peak-of-record levels. One streamgage on the Turkey River at Spillville, Iowa, has already surpassed the peak-of-record levels (38 years of record).
Three USGS crews have been deployed to northeast Iowa to make streamflow measurements and ensure proper streamgage operation. Currently all streamgages appear to be working properly.
Communication has been made with the NWS and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. As information is received from USGS field crews, these agencies as well as local emergency managers will be updated.
Iowa WaterWatch flood table
Iowa WaterWatch flood map